Door



y 6, 1953 D- R. JOHNSON ET AL 2,833,004

' DOOR Filed June 13, 1956 INVENTORS DAV/0 R. JOHNSON, DAN C. MUESSEL and JACK M. ROEHM A TTORNEYS United States Patent f DOOR David R. Johnson, Dan C. Muessel, and Jack M. Roehm, Niles, MlClL, assignors to Kawneer Company, Niles, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application June 13, 1956, Serial No. 591,170

2 Claims. (Cl. 211-91) vide a door including peripheral edge trim members which may be readily and accurately positioned about the marginal edges of the door.

A yet further object of the present invention is to provide an improved edge trim member for enhancing the appearance of a door associated therewith and for bracing the door to prevent warping thereof.

Briefly, the above and further objects are realized in accordance with the present invention by providing a door which comprises a frame covered by suitable coverings and a peripheral metallic trim and brace which protects the edges of the door and prevents warping. The door frame is provided with a peripheral groove in the marginal edge thereof for receiving a positioning web of the edge trim strips which are positioned around all'of the edges of the door.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which: 7

Fig. l is a partially sectioned perspective view of a door constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view of the door of Fig. 1, taken along the line 22 thereof;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged cross-sectional perspective view of the edge trim member of the present invention; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 44 of Fig. l and shows a hinge plate attached to the door of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 thereof, the composite type flush door of the present invention is indicated as a whole by reference character 10. It comprises a rectangular frame formed of a plurality of upright frame members 12 and a plurality of end frame members 14, the corner joints between the frame members 12 and 14 being conventional and form ing no part of the present invention. The frame members 12 and 14 and, if necessary, any cross-brace members which may be positioned intermediate the end members 14 are preferably constructed of wood and prior to the assembly of the frame, one edge of each of the frame members 12 and 14 is provided with a full length groove 12a and 14a so that in the final construction a peripheral 2,833,004 Patented May 6, 1958 core material may be disposed within the space between the frame members 12 and 14. The thickness of the core material 16 is substantially equal to and no greater than the thickness of the door frame and provides a primary structural element against which a plurality of flat panels 18 and 20 are positioned in an unwarped condition. The panels 18 and 20 each have a height and width equal to that of the door frame so that the edges of the panels 18 and 20 lie flush with the outer edges of the frame members 12 and 14. The panels 18 and 20 may be constructed of any suitable material such as, for example, plywood, but fiber board or hard board is preferable because of its high strength and low cost as-com pared to plywood. I

In order to provide an attractive, decorative door which may be made available for use with a number of long lasting finishes of different colors requiring practically no maintenance other than an occasional cleaning, the panels 18 and 20 are covered with plastic covering skins or sheets 22 and 24 secured by suitable means, such as cementing,

to the outer surfaces of'the panels 18 and 20. As best shown in Fig. 2, the edges 22a and 24a of the plastic sheets partially overlap the marginal edges of the door frame, terminating intermediate the grooves 12a and 14a and the junction of the panels 18 and 20 and the door frame. It will be understood that although the invention is particularly advantageous for use with a door having covering skins 22 and 24 made of plastic, it also finds utility when used in connection with a door having a metallic covering. Accordingly, the skins 22'and 24 may, if desired, be formed of thin metallic sheets.

In order to protect the edges of the coverings 22 and 24 at the edges of the door and also in order to enhance the appearance of the overall door construction by providing a metallic border therefor, a plurality of edge trim strips 26 are secured to'all four edges of the door frame over the overlapping portions of'the plastic sheets. 22 and 24.

The four-edge trim strips 26 are identical, being preferably extruded from aluminum or other suitable material. Since it is desirable that the trim strips 26 engage the sheets 22 and 24 in the immediate vicinity of the faces of the door 10, recesses 28 and 29 are provided in the face of the trim members 26 so as to define a pair of beads 36 which extend along the opposite sides of the trim strip 26. Moreover, the grooves 12a and 14a are deeper than the height of the web 30 on the trim strip 26 so that the webs 30 do not bottom in the grooves 12a or 14a when the trim strips 26 are assembled to the door frame. Accordingly, when the trim strips 26 are assembled to the door and attached to the frame members 12 and 14 by a plurality of wood screws 32 which extend through suitable apertures 34 in the trim strips 26, the beads 36 engage the sheets 22 and 24 opposite the edges of the panels 18 and 20 near the faces of the door. As best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the outwardly directed edges 36a of the beads 36 are chamfered so that any irregularities which may be present along the edges of the door between the sheets 22 and 24 and the trim strip 26 are not visually apparent.

It may thus be seen that the centrally disposed web 30 on the edge trim member 26 acting in cooperation with member 26. Consequently, if the edges of the door frame arenot perfectly straight, such irregularities are not apparent to one observing the door, and of course, the door is light-tight.

.For the purpose ofiseeuringhinges; teamma es;

other hardware on the door 10, portions of the trinr strip 26" may be: cutaway. Referring particularly; to" Eig. 4,

it maybe" seen th'atahinge plate 40" is positioned in the cut-away portion of the trim strip 26 and} screwed to the door. Moreover, the plate 40 may includea web for reception in the groove 12a: to facilitate accurate positioning of the hinge '40-on the door frame, thereby simplifying the'instal'lation ofthe' door.

The present invention thus enables a door which; is

particularlysuited for interior usein'buildings, homes, etc., and has theimportant advantage over the interior doors known in the prior'art that it may be provided in awide-variety of colors or metallic finishe's'and may completely prefabricated and assembled at the factory,

no alterations, or'painting-beingnecessary when the door is installed.

Accordingly, sincethe door 11) is completely fabricated and finished at the factory, since it cannot warp, and since it is relatively'low in weight, the cost of manufacture, upkeep, transportation and installation are greatly reduced over that ofinterior doors of the prior art type. Furthermore, by using One ofthe new type plastics which have become commercially available inthe past few years,

such, for example, as vinyl, the finish on the doors 10 is What is claimed. as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A composite. flush. door comprising, a rectangular frame formed of a cellulosic material and having. a peripheral groove inand extending the entire length of the marginal edges'thereof, a pair of rigid panels secured over oppositesides of said. frame with theedges of said panels lyinggfiush .withthe edgesof the frame, ahoneycomb filler material disposed within the space defined by saidframe and said panels, a plurality of thin plastic sheets covering the exterior-sides of said panels and partially overlapping the marginal edges of said frame, a plurality of metallic edge trim strips secured to said frame over the marginal edges thereof to provide a metallic border for said door, the widths of said strips being substantially equal to the combined thicknesses of said frame, said panels and the two covering sheets, an inwardly directed web on each of said strips which extend throughout the length thereof, said webs being positioned. in. said groove, the height of said webs being less than the depth v ing edges flush with the edges of the frame; aplurality of plastic covering sheets disposed overopposite sidcsof said door frame and at least partially overlapping the marginal edges of said frame, said'uprights and end' members having longitudinal grooves in the marginal. edges thereof thereby to provide a substantially peripheral groove in the marginal edges of said frame, and a plu-' rality of edge trim members positionedover the marginal edges of said frame and substantially covering the overlapping portions of said skins, each of said trim members having a longitudinal web which is positioned in said groove, the'width of said members being substantially equal to the width of the door, said trim members being in engagement with only that part of the overlapping-portions of the skins which are adjacent to the edges of the door frame.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,260,484 Rumsey Oct-28; 1941- 2,511,620 Clements June13 I950 2,705,820 Torrence Apr. 12, I955- OTHER REFERENCES Aluminum Mouldings by Aluminum Co. of America;-

Aug. 30, 1928, page 42, Fig.'K1171. 

